12 dead, 33 missing in southwest China landslides

BEIJING (AP) — A dozen people died and 33 others were missing Wednesday after being swept away or buried by two landslides in southwestern China.

Heavy rains triggered the landslide in Fugong county of Yunnan province that killed six people and left 25 others missing while destroying a silicon mine, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

More than 140 rescuers, using excavators, fire trucks and ambulances, were searching the site of the landslide, which lies about 500 meters (550 yards) from the Nujiang river, Xinhua said.

The Communist Party chief of Fugong county said some of the missing people may have been carried away by the river or buried under debris, the report said.

Reached by phone, a woman who would only give her surname, He, from the general office of the Nujiang prefectural government said rescue work was still underway but hopes of finding survivors were dimming.

"The chance that those who are missing might be rescued alive is very slim," He said.

In Yunlong county on Wednesday, six people were killed and eight others left missing after another landslide buried houses.